Page 80 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
“You and I need to hang out together and find some hot single men,” Serena said to Harper.
“Maybe you should wait until you see if you’re moving first,” Mira suggested. “Between you gearing up to get back into interior design, Desiree and Rick thinking more about dates for their wedding, and now you two moving in together, it feels like we’re all on the cusp of changes.” She placed her hand on her belly and looked hopefully at Emery, who had shown her a few fertility-boosting poses before class. “Maybe luck will be on our side and we’ll get pregnant this month.”
“I hope so,” Serena said. “But nothing is going to change too quickly on my end. If I do get a job offer, I’ll need to find someone who’s really good with people, numbers,andcan handle stepping between Drake and Rick when need be.”
“I’ve got that last part covered,” Dean assured her.
“And I can pitch in during my off hours.” Mira ran Matt’s father’s hardware store, and she’d put together a multistate small-business co-op that was doing remarkably well.
Jana put a hand on Harper’s shoulder and said, “Harper’s great with people and numbers.”
“I’ve got another screenplay on the horizon,” Harper said. According to Mira, she was a very talented screenplay writer and was trying to break into larger markets with bigger scripts. “But if you get in a bind, I could probably help out.”
“We’ll talk.” Serena winked at Harper. “But right now I have to get to work.”
That sparked a flurry of hugs and goodbyes as everyone went their separate ways, Dean and Emery heading inside to gather her belongings.
Emery saw Desiree walking with Cosmos up the driveway. She and Desiree had talked before her yoga class, and Emery had told her what had happened at the dinner and about finding out that Rose was Dean’s grandmother. When she’d told Desiree about Dean professing his love to her, she’d gotten choked up, and when she’d told her she was moving in with him, she’d drawn happy tears from both of them. But since they hadn’t had much time together, she wanted to touch base again. “Can you give me a few minutes to talk to Des?”
“Of course. Take as long as you need.” He kissed her cheek and said, “I’ll go scarf down some of her leftover muffins.”
Emery jogged over to greet Desiree and picked Cosmos up before he could try to climb her legs. The pooch smothered her face with kisses.
“Hi,” she said to Desiree. “We’re just going to grab my stuff from the house.”
Desiree tucked her blond hair behind her ear and kicked at a dandelion in the grass, shifting her eyes away, but not before Emery saw tears in her eyes.
“Is it silly that I’m going to miss you, even though you’re only across the yard and only moved back in for a little while?” Desiree asked.
Emery shook her head, surprised by the sting of her own tears. “No, but it’s weird that we’re both so emotional when we weren’t like this when you moved here and I was still in Virginia.”
She set Cosmos down and he sat by her feet, his tongue lolling out of his mouth, tail wagging. Emery looked at the woman who had been there for her when she got her first period, her first bra, her firstthong. She was there for her when she lost her virginity, when she decided not to go to college, and for countless other milestones—and things that shouldn’t be considered milestones, like for her first traffic ticket and holding her hair back the first time she drank so much she puked.
Emery’s heart climbed into her throat. “You’re the reason I’m able to be here. You offered me the chance to start over on the Cape when I was floundering at home.” She reached for Desiree’s hand and smiled at her sparkling engagement ring. “I think the reason we weren’t this emotional when you moved was because we both knew I’d end up here eventually. I couldn’t be that far from my very best friend in the whole world. But it’s different now, because it’s not just us anymore.”
“It hasn’t been just us for months,” Desiree reminded her.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, Em. I had Rick, and you and Dean were finding each other.” Desiree stepped closer, speaking softly. “We grew up. We’ve found our happy places with Rick and Dean,andeach other. We’re going to be living walking distance away from each other, and we’re working together at the inn. We’re so blessed. There’s nothing to be sorry about. I’m truly happy for both of you.”
They fell into each other’s arms, hugging as tight as they ever had.
“This is all good, right?” Emery asked as they separated.
“Better than good.” She patted her leg for Cosmos to follow them as they walked toward the house. “Maybe Dean will besogood, you’ll be inspired to learn to cook.”
They shared a laugh.
“Not happening,” Emery said.
When they reached the door, Emery hugged her again. “I love you, you know.”
“I know. And that man in there?” She motioned toward the house. “He’s crazy about you, Em. Rick said he’s never seen Dean happier. That’s all you, babe.”
“Well, well,” Violet said as she came out the kitchen door. “If it isn’t the pants chaser and the morning moaner.”
“Violet!” Desiree shook her head.
